Three workers died in separate accidents involving agricultural equipment. Miguel Vargas was decapitated by a wood chipper after a rope around a branch he was feeding into the chipper became tangled around his neck. Two teenage girls, Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall, were electrocuted by a center pivot irrigation system while removing corn tassels. Youth are particularly at risk of death or injury from farm accidents, with 113 dying annually from injuries between 1995-2002. Proper training, use of protective equipment, safe operation of machinery, and awareness of weather conditions can help prevent accidents and save lives.

1. Draft 7.29.2011 Cutting it Close: Safety in Agricultural Services

2. Experience doesn’t guarantee safety “Wilson said Vargas's screams would have been drowned out by the noise of the chipper as it stripped and shredded branches.” Accidents might happen, but with awareness, they can always be prevented 44-year-old Miguel Vargas had worked for Dwayne Wilson Tree Service for seven years. A rope around a branch Vargas was feeding into a wood chipper became tangled around his neck, and pulled him into the machine. Vargas’ boss, Wilson, immediately turned off the machine – when he looked at Vargas, the machine had already decapitated him.

3. Two teens electrocuted by irrigation system "I heard them yelling. I went over to help,“ Tristen Dudley, 13, of Rock Falls, said. "I didn't do anything because I would have been sucked in." Fourteen-year-olds Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall were working in a cornfield in northwestern Illinois. While removing tassels from corn, the two friends were “electrically shocked by a center pivot irrigation system.” An OSHA investigation into the deaths is ongoing.

5. 590,000 of these youth perform work on the farm

6. An additional 307,000 children and adolescents were hired to work on U.S. farms in 2006

8. Provide workers with the right training Areas of Ag services in which workers must receive training according to federal law: The best way to stop preventable accidents and deaths from occurring is to educate the workforce It’s the law This investment might seem unnecessary in the short-term, but in the long-term it saves lives and costs less than having to pay worker compensation and legal battles Temporary Labor Camps – 1910.142 Logging – 1910.266 Hazard Communication – 1910.1200 Cadmium – 1910.1027 Roll-Over Protective Structures for Tractors Used in Agricultural Operations – 1928.51 (d) Guarding of Farm Field Equipment, Farmstead Equipment, Cotton Gins – 1928.57 (a) (6(i) through (v) OSHA standards 1910 apply to all non farming operations and only in certain operations on farms.

9. Provide workers proper protection The employer is responsible for providing personal protective equipment, [PPE] - 1910.132(f)(1) Agricultural services rely on machines and tools that are dangerous if used improperly and without protective shielding. Workers should wear helmets, gloves, goggles, and other PPE that will prevent injury and even death. The eye pictured of above is a patient who was mowing without protective safety goggles. His retina was irreparably damaged, blinding him in that eye.

11. Beating the heat – a special note on working in warm weather "Heat illness is 100 percent preventable, and it starts with a three-step process -- water, rest and shade -- and employers need to make sure their employees have access to free drinking water and frequent rest, given the high heat and humid conditions we've had.” – Indiana Department of Labor spokeswoman Stephanie McFarland This summer, we’ve had record highs. Just because the sky is blue and the sun is shining doesn’t mean conditions are safe for workers. Make sure to provide employees with the following amenities when they’re working in the heat and sun.

13. Wear a wide-brimmed hat; baseball caps don’t shade the head as well

14. Use sunscreen – minimum SPF 30

15. UV-absorbent sunglasses

17. Take breaks in the shade

18. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugars

19. Work in the shade if possible

21. Assess the area “To fell a tree” doesn’t mean just cutting it down. Felling incorporates the action by which tree trimmers designate a safe area in which the tree can fall. More people are killed felling than during any other logging activity.

22. Things to remember when felling trees Determine felling direction Take into account dead trees, direction of pressure, and other trees that could complicate the process Provide retreat path for logger Keep tabs on all workers’ locations Types of preferred tree felling: Top cut Bottom or under cut Back cut

24. In addition to training, a second trained trimmer must be within the vicinity to assist the first worker in case something were to go array (1910.269(r))

26. Essential practices to remember when using tree trimming machinery Chainsaws Wood chippers Before use, check the parts of the chainsaw to make sure it will function properly Start the saw on the ground; drop starting is NEVER allowed Clear away debris, branches, rock and metals away from the chains path Maintain balance and focus when operating the saw Wear PPE to protect your body Do not wear loose-fitting clothes Be careful that the branch or tree being cut does not bind the chainsaw Be careful about chainsaw kickback To avoid this, DO NOT saw with tip Keep tip guard in place Understand the manufacturer’s guidelines for machine operation Undergo thorough training of the machine NEVER reach into the chipper while it is turned on Chippers make a lot of noise and chew up and shoot out debris – wear PPE, including earplugs, safety glasses, hard hats and gloves Maintain a safe distance (two tree or log lengths) from chipper operations and other workers Remember to use the lockout system to prevent the chipper from restarting when servicing the chipper

27. Farming Safety Farming can be a rewarding job. But there are many dangers inherent in farming. The profession involves heavy machinery, potentially deadly chemicals, animals, and incorporating family into the work force. Also, farms are in rural, remote settings far from the care of hospitals or doctors’ offices. Preventative measures outlined in OSHA guidelines and regulations will help farmers and their farmhands maintain safe working environments.

28. Tractors and Large Machinery Most farm accidents involve heavy machinery All farming implements should have proper guard protection, much like any other tool in any other industry Routine maintenance to tractors and other machinery keeps machine functional and operating safely Tractors must have sufficient rollover protective structures that meet OSHA standards - 1928.51 Just as when driving a car, tractor drivers should be aware of their surrounding. Blind spots endanger fellow farm hands or family members on the ground. Quick tips for tractor safety (OSHA Standard 1928) Avoid steep slopes Buckle up Properly secure the brakes Make sure the path on which you’re driving the tractor is clear of people and obstacles Do not allow riders

29. Chemical Safety Short-term and long-term exposure to certain farm chemicals can cause irreversible adverse health effects There are numerous ways pesticides and other farming chemicals can enter the body: the skin, clothes, or breathing The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 poisonings happen every year among agricultural workers. To prevent poisoning and other dangerous health complications, make sure to do the following: Be trained to use the chemicals you’re spraying on crops Be aware that at any given time, there might be pesticides on the plants, in the soil, irrigation water Keep chemicals in restricted areas Wash before eating or any activity involving the hands Wear PPE to protect the body Shower after working with chemicals Wash your work clothes separately from other laundry If contact is made with a chemical, wash it off immediately and seek medical attention

31. Members of the family become de facto farmhands to help the family business

32. Injury rates are highest among two groups: workers over 65 and the youth, ages 15 and under

33. Children playing around the house and the barn are subjected to many dangers.

34. Machinery

35. Animals

36. Chemicals

37. Not only should workers on the farm undergo proper training to deal with the dangers associated in everyday farming, but the family should be educated to ensure their normal day-to-day lives are not disrupted by preventable accidentsCody Rigsby, 17, died at a grain elevator Tempel Grain operated in Haswell in Kiowa County. On May 29, 2009, he climbed a ladder and entered a grain bin, where the grain continued to flow and engulfed him, suffocating him, according to court documents. – Liz Navratil, Denver Post, July 27, 2011

38. Education is the best means of prevention This presentation scratches the surface of all the safety guidelines and regulations OSHA enforces to protect the United State workforce in agricultural service industries. Before starting work in any industry, workers must educate themselves with proper training to protect themselves; it is also their employer’s responsibility to provide that training. A class can go a long way to ensure workers’ safety. Investing in safety might mean a short-term set back, but employers who take the time to create a safe working environment benefit the most by having healthy employees and profitable business endeavors.

39. Further This ppt was prepared by Trevor Eischen as a preliminary aid for people required to work in agriculture services. Thanks to John Newquist, Tonya Ford and Janet S. for corrections and suggestions. This is not an official OSHA publication. Those will be on the OSHA.gov website. trevoreischen1714@gmail.com is my email if you see any errors. This is just a draft as of the cover date.